1 sSeJ 68th Street Dump Site Baltimore County, MD Superfund Update US EPA Region 3 May 2006 Cleanup Agreement Reached for 68th Street Dump Site The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a group of nineteen companies have entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent. The companies, collectively referred to as the Settling Parties, have agreed to conduct a comprehensive environmental investigation and prepare a reuse plan for the Site which is located near Rosedale in Baltimore County. The work will be performed under the guidelines of the Superfund Alternative Site (SAS) Process. This is the first time that EPA Region 3 has used the SAS Process to expedite the cleanup and reuse of a Superfund-level site. What is the Superfund Alternative Site (SAS) Process? The SAS Process is a stream-lining effort. It is intended to facilitate cooperative agreements between the EPA and Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs - those who may have contributed to contamination or who own or operate contaminated properties) and lead to faster transitions from blighted sites to properties available for beneficial reuse. Returning properties to beneficial use helps to protect the environment by reducing sprawl and protecting habit. It also strengthens local property values and restores local tax bases. Settlements and cleanup efforts conducted under the SAS Process are equivalent to cleanup efforts conducted at other Superfund- level sites. However, SAS sites need not be listed on the National Priorities List (NPL), a register of the nation's most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites requiring long-term cleanup. EPA may evaluate SAS sites and SAS- site cleanups in accordance with the Agency's land revitalization and reuse initiatives. As a result, sites may be divided into distinct parcels or operable units. The more narrowly-focused projects allow minimally contaminated areas of the sites to be addressed rapidly while more complex areas undergo more intensive investigation and cleanup. At large sites, this means that portions of a site may proceed to redevelopment before the investigation and cleanup of more challenging portions is completed. Site Background EPA first proposed the Site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in January 1999. Listing was re-proposed on April 30, 2003. After an extended comment period, during which numerous comments were received, EPA entered into negotiations with several PRPs. In late March 2006, nineteen PRPs entered into a consent agreement to investigate the site and prepare cleanup and reuse plans for its rehabilitation. ------- Source 4 Source 2 Source 3 Site Map Showing Areas Considered Potential Sources of Contamination The site covers 165 acres of source area primarily located in Baltimore County, as shown on the site map above. Five onsite areas, once used as landfills, have been identified as contaminant sources. These areas received industrial and commercial refuse, incinerator ash, and/or waste oils for a period of years extending from the mid-1940s through the early 1970s. What Have the Settling Parties Agreed to Do? The Settling Parties have agreed to investigate the site as quickly as possible. The Site will be divided into separate areas based on similarities, such as previous operations, future development potential, types of contamination, or amount of existing data. This will allow Remedial Investigations (RIs) and Feasibility Studies (FSs) to be completed for some portions of the Site, while conditions at other portions are still being delineated. Among the tasks the Settling Parties have agreed to perform are the following activities: 1) review existing data and identify additional data needs; 2) evaluate contaminant sources and potential exposure scenarios; 3) identify the types and quantities of contaminants; 4) evaluate surface conditions and current physical hazards; 5) evaluate subsurface conditions; 2 ------- 6) identify ecologically sensitive areas; and 7) determine water uses at and near the Site. This information will be used to develop risk assessments for human health and the environment. It will also inform parceling decisions and parcel-specific investigations conducted at the Site. The Settling Parties will also develop a Preliminary Reuse Evaluation. The evaluation will assess existing infrastructure, surrounding land uses, and the development plans of local jurisdictions. The evaluation will also identify potential redevelopment opportunities and reuse alternatives. The areas of the Site most suitable for redevelopment, as well as those areas best suited for preservation and environmental enhancement, will be identified. This information will be used to support the parceling strategy; prioritize the Site investigation; and implement any necessary response actions. For each parcel or operable unit (OU) identified, the Settling Parties will undertake appropriate actions to support reuse. For some parcels or OUs, an RI and an FS may be need. An RI will identify the type and extent of contamination, the potential for human exposure or environmental impacts, and the surface and subsurface conditions associated with a specific parcel or OU. An FS will identify regulatory requirements and existing engineering technologies that can be applied to the conditions revealed by an RI. The most promising cleanup technologies, will then be compared and considered before a cleanup plan is proposed for a parcel or operable unit. Parcels and OUs without any history of disposal or hazardous materials handling are not expected to need full RIs and FSs. However, a formal proposal and a public comment period, including supporting documentation, will be required prior to selecting a final remedy. What is the Project Schedule? It is anticipated that by Fall of 2006 the Settling Parties will prepare a Site-wide Program Management Plan to serve as a road map for planning the required activities. The Plan will: 1) review existing data and formulate strategies; 2) develop an overview of land reuse opportunities and market potential; 3) delineate parcels to integrate environmental and redevelopment concepts; and 4) prioritize the sequence of work needed to investigate, cleanup and redevelop the site. In approximately nine months, the Settling Parties will prepare a Site-wide RI/FS Work Plan. The plan will include: 1) a Field Sampling Plan, 2) a Quality Assurance Project Plan, 3) a Health and Safety Plan, and 5) a Risk Assessment Work Plan. When these documents are reviewed and approved, parcel-specific plans will be developed Community Involvement Opportunities will be Provided Opportunities for interested members of the community to have input to the cleanup and redevelopment process will be provided. 3 ------- A Community Relations Plan to facilitate the exchange of information between the communities, the Settling Parties, and the EPA, will also be prepared. Public Notices of upcoming events, such as public meetings, will appear in the Baltimore Sun and the weekly paper, The Avenue. A mailing list for the Site will be developed and maintained. Additionally, the settling parties will host an interactive web- site that will present current information about the site and provide a forum for residents to comment on site-related issues and concerns. Site-specific information will also be entered into EPA's website at: http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/ super/sites/MDD 9809183 87/index.htm For more information about this site, please contact: Christopher J. Corbett (3HS22) Remedial Project Manager 215-814-3220 OR 1-800-553-2509 corbett.chris@epa.gov Carrie Deitzel (3HS52) Community Involvement Coordinator 215-814-5525 OR 1-800-553-2509 deitzel. carrie@epa. gov USEPA Region 3 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029 Or log onto: http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/super/sites/MDD980918387/index.htm USEPA Region III 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029 Attn: C. Deitzel (3HS52) Update: 68th Street Dump Site 4 LET'S TALK June 13, 2006 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Please come and talk with us about plans for the 68th Street Dump Site. Drop in anytime between 6 & 9 pm and talk with whomever you choose Learn about: 1) our findings 2) the next steps 3) redevelopment options 4) how you can be involved Golden Ring Middle School 6700 Kenwood Avenue (in the Library) Baltimore, MD 21237 Bring your issues and concerns and talk, informally, with representatives of EPA, MDE, and the Cooperating Parties. ------- |